A lawsuit filed in federal court in Michigan on Monday could change the way the state laws consider same-sex couples with adopted children, CNN affiliate WXYZ reported. Current law allows only one parent to adopt kids, but if something happens to that parent, the other partner has no parental rights - they can't sign for the kids' medical care, and the kids don't have the same inheritance rights or rights to social security disability or health insurance.

April Deboer and Jayne Rowse have raised three children since birth, but state laws allows only one of them to be each child's legal parent.

“Michigan has some of the worst laws in the country for gay and lesbian parents,” says attorney Carole Stanyar, who represents the couple. “And these laws in particular are hurting families, and as we can see in this case, they’re hurting children."

soundoff(537 Responses)

hmc719

A parent who can provide comfort, safety, and unconditional love to a child who otherwise might not be so lucky shouldn't be barred from the right to be that child's legal parent. The sexual orientation of a parent who can provide that should be irrelevant.

I love you two women. Good for you! Don't let any bigot get in your way of loving your children. The only thing you might need advice about is that your son is wearing a girls sweater. He won't like this video when he gets older and notices.

Yes the good old days when minorities knew their place and had to use the back door. When you could beat your kids and wife and it was OK with the law. When you had the legal right to rape your wife. When you could hide your mentally handicapped kid in the attic or basement. When women knew their place (the kitchen and the home and pregnant). When freedom of speech was really only for a chosen few. When only the poor and middle class where forced to fight in wars from the draft. When there was as much deviant behavior as today but it was hypocritically done behind close doors... Ah yes, the good old days, how I miss them.....

I remember back in the day when the United States or the States did everything for the best of the country, people and children. What has happened to us? Now as long as it is a sick and twisted version it's all good! I don't think so! We as a whole have lost ever moral fiber now we are truly less than that of wild animals. I remember back to fraud for marrying someone just for their insurance benefits, marrying someone to make them a US citizen and the laws that were broken and people arrest for this kind of wrong-full-ness.. What happened to morals of a loving family, kids going to school, no crime or murders or gang bangers. Hell we have more murders right here in the United States than what two wars have had in the past ten years. Yes, we have lost our way!!! We need to go back to what is for the best of our country and not for sick loss confused idiots that was never told NO!

they're not really doing a service towards God by being gay. Te Bible clearly states that a marriage consists of a man and a woman. those kids were put on this earth for a reason, just like the rest of us.

And gay people are on this planet for a reason. We all are. We all deserve a spin on this big rock. If more straight people practised birth control there wouldnt be all these needy children for us gays to look after. I can't remember the last time I heard of a gay couple's children being placed in care.

my goodness Rand! you are just totally clueless arent you buddy? You remember the ten commandments? THOSE are the only written laws BY GOD. the Bible weas written by MEN. The story of Moses being out in the desert for 40 years was written 900YEARS after it happened. 900 years! so, let's not pretend like the Bible is completely accurate. Particularly since men of power have had their hand in editing the Bible over the years. You know, King Henry had the Bible edited to say that if a woman was barren, a man had the right to KILL her, in order to wed another? that was left in The Word, for over 200 years..200 years, people thought they could KILL their barren wives, by Gods permission. The Bible says a lot of things I don't necessarily believe wholeheartedly..but I believe in the Lord. So, about a year ago, I decided to put my Bible down, and start tying to hear the word of God through nature, you know, God given things..not man made... and it has really changed how I feel about our Lord. Look around you, god wants you to ENJOY this life, to learn from it, to teach in it! What are you teaching others here? Please, don't speak for the Lord, you do not know what his intentions are, your judgement has been clouded by the thumbprint of MAN. Do not speak of hate, and intolerance in the name of the Lord, they already fight wars in his name, the only war the Lord expects us to fight in his name, is a spiritual one. Look into your heart, feel the peace and love of your Lord, he wants us all to feel that, to believe that. You are denying others the right to that feeling, and even more so- you are pushing them further and further from His arms with your bigotry. shame on you! I pity your ignorance. :(

Rand, the Bible is reallly not your best defense if you're disputing their right to adopt children. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that a lesbian couple should not raise children.However, the Bible does say quite a bit about loving each other and helping people who need help. It seems to me that that's exactly what these two women are doing. You should not be condemning them. You should be applauding them.

And since it's all these "gays" that are being violent gang banging murderers thats all we need to fix right? Just get rid of the Gay and the violence goes away? Right?

You are so full of santorum it's not even funny. It's people like yourself that are destroying this country. The violence and hatred in this country are directly related to the economic situation we have created through a history of racism and classism. It has NOTHING to do with our gay friends, unless you want to talk about Matthew Shepherd and the violence and death inflicted upon him just because he was gay. Or is your God nothing more than a violent criminal himself like Aaron McKinney or Russell Henderson who delights in the torture and death of a young man just because he was gay?

Being gay is not a choice it is a disorder much like all the other things like manic depression, bi-polar, ADHD, pedophilia, paranoia, schizophrenia...etc....you do't really choose it, you just live with it best you can and try to do good by those that have to deal with you. People get caught up in what "normal" is when it comes to law. It was not "normal" to be in a white/black relationship a few decades ago, and we were making people drink at different water fountains because they had a different color skin. That was "normal" at one time. Welcome to America where laws are suppose to be changable with the times, and so this one will change too to meet the new "normal". It makes me wonder what we will believe to be "normal" in the coming decades.....

And I'm sure there are many "guys brain in a girl's body" that could wipe the floor with your face and asss all at the same time all day long. I'd being willing to bet there are plenty of girls out there that could do the same thing to....

A guy's brain in a girl's body? No. The article does not say that these women are transgendered, just that they are gay. There is a huge difference, but you obviously don't know anything about the issue. And no, it's not a disorder' it's a characteristic. No more of a disorder than having blond hair or big feet. Why do you feel threatened by that? And why would anyone believe that these otherwise unwanted children would be better off without these two intelligent, generous parents who just want to love them?

My "disorder" as you would put it does not debilitate me from being a productive member of society. According to the DSM-IV it is labeled as a disorder, but I don't believe that to be true. Not only that, I am both gay and work in mental health counseling. Everyone has an opinion, including the DSM lol.

you have a point there, but being gay will never be normal. were Adam and Eve gay? were Mary and Joseph gay? were all of our great leaders gay? not since the last time I checked. Not everyone will accept them even if it is 'normal'. Its just not the way we were made. The bible said that a marriage consists of a MAN and a WOMAN.

I have no doubt gay people existed in biblical times (If they even existed),,, Jesus always lived at home, he wore a dress and only hung out with dudes (disciples) and could cater a whole crowd of people with a loaf of bread and a fish,,, seriously,,,gay catering existed and Jesus was the cook. They may not have had a word for it back then but a 35 year old man (Jesus) who never lay with a woman is definitely gay.

it wasn't Adam & eve, it was originally Adam & Lillith. Who were both created from the same ashes. Lillith did not want to be dominated or controlled by Adam. She did not want to OBEY Adam, why should she have to?- they were equally made. So Lillith, of her own free will, decided to leave the garden. God did not punish her by forcing her out of the garden, she chose to leave, and He let her. now Eve, was created FROM Adam, in order for her to be connected to him in spirit, but she still chose to disobey. Lillith was later labeled as a demonic woman by MEN- not God, bred in Satan, but obviously that discription would serve the men that labeled her as such. Do you not see it? How the Word of God has been slaughtered by MEN? Don't put your faith in a BOOK- put your faith in LOVE. these three things will last forever: Faith, Hope, Love..but the greatest of these is love. 1Corr, 13:13.. just saying.. LOVE is more important than the decaying pages of a book. Open your eyes and your heart, you are not experiencing the real Jesus.

Because, as history has shown us, the easiest way to combat and overcome prejudice is to run away from it. Where would we be if women hadn't left the U.S. when they weren't allowed to vote? What if Martin Luther King hadn't led a the charge out of the racist southern states?

I love how people talk about "what the bible says"...since when are we ruled by the bible? Have you ever heard of freedom of religion? This is America, people! We are not ruled by religion, and as soon as these HOLY ROLLING AWESOMEHOLES figure that out we can have logical discourse with them.

No lie! If half of these people realized that the books of the Bible were written CENTURIES after the supposed acts, they might take that into consideration when trying to form an EDUCATED opinion. But to base the structure of their entire civilization on fables? scary... this is supposed to be the land of free- where people came to ESCAPE religious persecution..hummmm...

As long as there are zealots waving their ancient book there will always be persecution. More people have died in the name of God than anything on the planet. Sounds like a religion i'd wanna be a part of,,,,not.

that's the problem JXx21! these idiots reaed the Bible and don't realize that it has literally been raped of it's true Word. it has been pilfered by man time and time again. the true Word of God & espscially Jesus was Love. Helping your fellow man, praying for someone instead of persecuting them. We fight wars in his name, because Man has twisted His Word to support his own agenda. There are Words in the Bible, some of them you feel in your heart- they stir in your soul, uintil they gain their own momentum & meaning in your life. Those are the words of love, compassion, hope. Not the words of hate & desicration. These guys don't realize God doesnt want them speaking for Him! Their disrespect and ignorance pushes people further and further away from HIM. so, in essence they are doing more of a misservice, than a deed for the Lord wouldnt you agree? The only battle my Lord asks me to fight is a spiritual one within myself here on earth. We all have our own journeys, and internal battles...but if you need a drink of water sister, you can drink from my cup. That is what MY faith is about. do not let these fools alter your perception of the true Word.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?!?!? THIS COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED BY CHRISTIAN FOUNDERS!!! DO NOT TELL ME THAT WE CANT BE RULED BY THE BIBLE! IF YOU DONT WANT RELIGION, GO LIVE IN CHINA BECAUSE FOR AS LONG AS AMERICA STANDS WE WILL BE RULED BY THE BIBLE AND BY GOD!!!WHO ARE YOU TO SAY THAT WE ARE NOT RULED BY RELIGION?? LOOKS LIKE YOU'RE THE MINORITY IN THIS COUNTRY BECAUSE AMERICA WILL ALWAYS BE CHRISTIAN! DONT TRY AND CHANGE THINGS YOU CANT CHANGE. GIVE UP!!! IN A FEW YEARS LOOK WHERE LIVING WITHOUT THE BIBLE WILL LEAD YOU. THE BILL OF RIGHTS DOES SAY THERE SHOULD BE FREEDOM OF RELIGION..THAT ALSO MEANS TALKING ABOUT THE BIBLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dont be stupid

truely- it was Adam & Lillith, she was made from the dust, as was Adam, but she refused to be controlled and obedient to Adam, so she left the garden. Of her own free will. God didnt punish her for being "butch"..lol. Perhaps Lillith was the first Lesbian. Either way- God let her leave of her own free will, and later it was MAN that labeled her a concubine & harlot! MAN..not God. See the difference? God is LOVE. Man is ignorant. I hope when this is all done- God lines these fools up and says..hummm.. a life of intolerance, haterid, self richeousness, bigotry, and greed?? & you spread this disease among your children?? ok.. SURE I'll let you into Heaven..NOT!

Let me tell you something chap, my kid has a friend with parents such as this. MORTIFIED is how she feels about it, hiding the fact and lying about the parents. She would rather have divorced parents than this. Oh and was raised as such from birth, so there's your sign.....

The only issue should be whether or not this couple can raise a child together. Straight, gay, lesbian, inter-racial, whatever it may be. I'm white and my wife is black, we live in the south, and it wasn't that long ago that a couple in our situation couldn't get married and have a child. Since we wouldnt have been able to marry, we wouldn't have been able to adopt either.

For all of you crazy posters out there, your religious beliefs are just that, your religious beliefs. I was raised in a conservative Christian house hold and maintain many conservative Christian values. But I recognize the fact that they are my values. I don't want "the gay agenda" telling me how to live my life any more than they want "the Christian agenda" telling them how to live their life. You may not agree with how they choose to live, but it is their choice to make. Try respecting it, you may gain a new perspective on life.

Gays and lesbians should not be allowed to adopt children and raise them in the midst of their unnatural life style. They should leave these kids alone to be raised elsewhere in a normal environment. Gays and lesbians want to adopt these kids to raise them to become like them. If they really want to be parents for right reasons, they would not choose to become gays and lesbians in the first place.

ARE YOU SERIOUS? WHO WOULD CHOOSE TO BE GAY.......It's not a CHOICE...this is HOW WE WERE BORN! Who I sleep with has NO IMPACT on my ability to raise a child...IT"S INGORANT PEOPLE LIKE YOU WHO BREED HATE! Someone like you SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HAVE CHILDREN....U preach HATE..I preach Peace...NO DIFFERENCE!

First off being gay is not a choice, it is natural and the fact that you don't accept that fact shows how ignorant you are. Second, in what way do you think they will raise them to be like them. They understand that being gay is not a choice, it is genetic, so they would let their child grow up and become what is natural for the child. And saying they have an unatural life style is just plain dumb. I would take having two parents who care for me in the same house rather than those who are divorced and separated from each other and don't even care about the kids.

Wow- when will you guys learn to stand upright, and stop dragging your knuckles? this is insane thinking! Open your eyes! ask ANY of these children if they care if their parents are gay, I assure you- they DO NOT CARE. they want the same things you and I do.. love, shelter, comfort, ROOTS, a home, and loving parents in it!! You think they would rather stay at the childrens' home?? wow. why does it matter?! it is just BEYOND me!!? I don't discuss my bedroom antics with ANYONE- that obviously includes my children... so? if everyone stopped with the judgement these kids COULD be raised without issue- it's ignorant people like yall that make the comments, and raise your kids to hate that cause all of the problems for kids like this! I have a lesbian couple in my family- raising a child.. most attentive & caring parents I have ever met! shame shame!! Obviously history is full of people bending the truth for their own personal gain, or to support their political agendas, and I am afraid that is the case with the Book on this subject. My Mama & Jesus taught me to love, my church taught me to hate, but WHY?? You guys need to do some soul searching...I will pray for you.

Your message is ridiculous. Take a look at the "Justice" section of CNN's website and see how many "straight parents" have abused, neglected and killed their own children. Not saying one is better than the other, but come on now! What planet do you live on and if you actually are on earth, is it under a rock?!

Adoption is a legal right not a religious sacrement as many of you seem to think. It is the legal understanding that someone NOT born of your genes is now your responsibility. I understand, although do not agree with, a religious objection to gay marriage but the care of a child is what is paramount here. The issue is whether a child in the care of two adults, can be legally tied to both of them. That is it. People just assume that my step children are legally tied to me but since I never adopted them, if my wife dies, I, who have assumed responsibility, would have no rights under the law. I am fortunate to have the choice to create this legal bond. Any person who assumes this responsibilty of being a parent should have the same right. If you stand on moral grounds that gay people are sinners ( and I do not believe this, btw) and therefore should not be allowed to adopt, then by extension all sinners should be prevented from adopting. Since the New Testament Bible expressly tells us that we are all sinners, then by that logic no one should be able to adopt. Stop worrying about legislating peoples religious beliefs and worry about protecting children from laws that put them at jeopardy.

Excellent post, although I'd like to remind everybody that the "marriage" under discussion is not the holy sacrament version, since that would still be up to individual religions to approve or not, but the LEGAL one. The contract between persons and state that allow for certain rights and assume certain responsibilities for the partner and their expenses.

Foster homes are a crapshoot. Some are loving homes; some are adequate; some are worse hells than most people can imagine. What's worse, the "average" varies greatly from state to state– take a look at Florida, where the best result a foster child can possibly have is to live long enough to be out of foster care. No child should be put into that Russian Roulette scenario. Why let them be adopted by people who want them badly enough to go to court over it?

Research will show what they want it to show. Always has and always will. I don't trust "research" polls or anything else. They are only there to make an issue right or wrong. In this case, the research was to show their weren't any problems with gay couples raising children which we all know is hog wash.

Research can definitely be biased. What I base my beliefs on is actually witnessing how people rear their kids. Both str8 and gay people raise their kids to be mindful, polite, inclusive and decent if they want to. Many family values such as love, kindness, supportiveness and belonging are in both kinds of households. I have str8 friends who have raised some remarkable children and I know many gay families who are bringing up lovely bright and decent children. It's about your abilities to parent. Kids dont care what you do on your own time but they sure care about having their wee bellies full, a cuddle and book at bedtime and a home that respects them as a person. Just as love and caring can be taught so can hatred and villifying. What are you all teaching your kids?

I notice that every argument on here against gay people having families is pretty much copy/pasted from a couple decades ago, when the issue of the day was interracial marriage/equality ("If God wanted us to inter-marry, He wouldn't have made us different colors – they're markers to show who's appropriate & who isn't!" "Think of the children; they're going to be so confused & upset, being forced to live in a household with two different cultures!")

The laws are similar here in Wisconsin. My wife and I are celebrating our 9th year of marriage this year (not recognized by our state) and we have a four-year-old son who we fostered since 13 months of age (we were the seventh foster family). We have since adopted him. We had more rights as a foster family to our son than we have as an adoptive family. We had every intention of both being responsible for him, caring for him, loving him, and raising him. And we do just that. However, while my son bears my surname, he is a legal stranger to me. I cannot even legally sign him up for a library card, let alone authorize any type of emergency medical procedure. The state only allows one of us to adopt, simply because they do not recognize our marriage. It was a heart breaking decision to try to decide who would be the legal parent. We had to put aside the heartbreak and other emotions regarding the law and do what was in the best long-term interest of our son. In our case, this was ensuring that he would have health care. Because my wife has a more stable workplace than I do, and therefore, more reliable health coverage, we decided it was in our son's best interest if she was the legal adoptive parent. I live with the fear of knowing that any day something bad could happen and I would have ZERO rights to my son.

By not allowing us both to adopt our son, the state has denied our son two loving legal parents. They have denied my son a legally recognized relationship with his grandparents, aunts, and uncles. And they have placed undue hardship and stress on our family, as well as numerous financial barriers to securing any rights and protections for our family.

Real funny!
Woman-vrs-Woman in a custody fight?
Women use custody to stiff and strip men for everything they have. Let's see how this turns out and the bias court rule. This is a sight to see.
Whose side is that plastic face greedy atty. Albright or atty. Alpuke is on?

@CHE, hey misogynist, did you read the article or just the headline? This article is about how the state of Michigan (and others) are denying leagal rights to legally parent a child, not a custody battle. Good grief. Get over your male self.

You need ot get off your high horse and try to tell us how morolistic we should or should not be. I dont care if you dont liek it no one is asking you to be gay now are they but you seem to think you can tell everyone to be straight.

What "Morals"?
The last time some imbecilic GOP who reads at 3rd. level sought the Presidency of United States on some bogus slogan so-called "Family Moral Values"; we found ourselves of his deceitful murderous rampage in Iraq and the tsunami destruction of American Economy (the worst ever in the history of mankind) of which we're still wheeling and digging ourselves from. Do you even know the overwhelming human deaths, marriage breakups, marriage destruction and suicides etc. etc. George W. Bush actions have caused all of us and gravely to certain families in US and the World at large of his bogus slogan, so-called "Family Values"?
Not only that, his corrupt cronies made $Trillions at the expense of all. And who are left holding the bag? We the people. They have NO Soul nor conscience. Don't impose your so-called "Morals" on others.

To put it simply: People in the world may have the goal to force or impose morals onto you and everyone else. But also you are given the right to choose what your morals and values are. You have your's, I have mine. You can also do all of the research you want, but you still don't focus on the factual information that shows whether or not gay parents are fit to adopt and raise children. Keep your anger to yourself, and respond appropriately. Otherwise, you're just labeled a bigot.

So because they choose to be gay and adopt kids, we should just go ahead and change the law to suit them? Why don't they change the law the way that they are supposed to do it, by getting it in the senate and having them change it? I don't like seat belt laws, but being as I choose to drive a vehicle, then I choose to wear a seat belt, although I don't like being told I have to wear it. If I want it changed, then there is a legal procedure for changing it. I just love it when someone chooses to live a certain way, then they get upset because of the laws that they don't like and we are supposed to just go ahead and violate the law.

If you believe in that then you will know that God created his son in his image and Jesus was a gay man. He always lived at home, wore a dress and hung out almost exclusively with dudes. He could make a banquet out of just a fish and a loaf of bread (an early gay caterer?) and never had a woman in his life...hmmm....

Gay is not a choice..........and you say the bible says it is wrong??? The bible says a lot of things that just dont hold up in these more enlightened times. Didnt they advocate stoning for adultery too in the bible and crucifiction.

Well your religious beliefs don't determine everyone's laws. Yes, the bible says that God created Adam and Eve but where did it say that that is the blueprint for relationships? You are implying. When you make assumptions you make an.. well you know the rest

Over the past decades folks like you have posted hundreds of thousands of times that gay folks choose to be gay.

And over this same time frame, we have asked and asked and asked for you folks to post the citations to the peer-reviewed scientific research that supports your contention that gays choose to be gay – and thus by corollary that straights choose to be straight. Tens of thousands of times we have asked you to do this.

Sadly, to date, not a single solitary one of you has posted a single solitarypiece of science to support your inane drivel. Not once. Ever.

Can you explain why, Randy? Why do you folks continue to post this and then refuse to support it?

So, Randy, are you the one? Are you the one we have been waiting for all these years? Are you the one who will have the balls to finally post the science that says being gay is a choice? Or will you be just another ignorant fundy who refuses to post the science?

Excellent post. And the education is to accept people for who they are as a whole human being, not one single characteristic of their being. Being gay doesn't define a whole person, it's part of them. They could be a musician too, or an athlete or a doctor. Whatever the case, to attempt to finger point and complain that people are imposing views upon others, including yourself, and say that people choose to be gay shows that not only are you ignorant to your own ability to choose/listen/believe, but that you haven't gotten quite the good education yourself. Thank you, Primewonk for your post.

All of you that just go along with CNN and any media outlet that is pushing gay agenda are SHEEP! You are all buying off on this trendy, peace and love hippy like bull crap. I have witnessed a gay family member co-raise a child with her partner. Guess what... that child is now bom bom bom... YOU GUESSED IT, GAY! I love that family member. I accept them for who they are. I am not perfect nor do I claim to be. I do however disagree with forcing children to live in a confusing and DRAMA ridden household. If you think I'm off on the drama thing, really get to know some gay men or women. I will never accept gay agenda. I will never let the media or other sheep sway my opinion or my beliefs. Nor should you!

As much as I am sad for all the gay folks in the states having to put up with this nonsensical mindset I am so glad y'all dont live here in Canada. We don't put up with Redneckism (Unless yer in Alberta but that's all bush and moose) but do find it comical to read about. No wonder your country is in such poor shape. Oh,,,are you now going to blame a black man for that? sad,,,sad ,,,sad.

Thanks for giving your honesty! it's nice and awakening to see how outsiders truly see our current state of affairs. Sad that we are stereotyped that way. Not all of us are total idiots hell bent on controlling the rest of us. You are right- it is a SAD state of affairs down here...can't live, love, or learn without issue. and you're right- they all blame the black guy..

Hi Aunt Crit, stereotypes do happen when the vocal people are the most heard. It's just really hard for us Canadians to figure out what really is the problem with giving gays and lesbians the right to marry the person they love. I always thought love was the best family value ever along with teaching kids proper manners and grammar and instilling in them a sense of societal responsibility and personal respect. It's just the way of a modern society to consider everyone when it comes to rights. I've met many forward-thinking Americans and it gives me pause to believe their is some hope after all. hugz from Ontario to you.

Jx21- I had a cousin, raised in the Catholic church & Catholic school. beautiful young girl, married young, had her children young. then about the age of 30, she (as my family puts it) "decided" to be gay, and left her husband. She lost so many friends, and co-workers, even the support of her parents when she decided to come out. You would not believe the way she has been treated by loved ones! She always secretly knew she was gay, she didn't just "choose" to be gay over night. She knew she was gay, but even more importantly- she knew she was living a LIE. She was lying to everyone- including herself. She DID just wake up one morning and decided to not lie anymore, but she never "decided" to be gay. It was the most soul searching decision she had ever made. She prayed and prayed and prayed on it. Denied it for years! Finally she realized that living the life of a liar, should never be preferred over walking in the truth. She had FAITH in God, that he would bring her through the darkness of her revelation. She is living her life more truthfully and honestly now, (& happily) than she ever did as a straight woman. & I think THAT is a true testament to God's enduring love for each of us.

You are truly a beautiful spirit, my friend. Your love and acceptance and inclusion of your cousin is something we should all aspire to have for our fellow human. Her story is very similar to mine but eventually my family and co-workers came to realize that I am whole as a gay woman and a liar as a straight one. I have many gay relatives. Each and everyone of us now are cherished and valued, as it should be. Straightness or Gayness is not the sum of our beings but one small part, sometimes in a very insignificant way. I hope you know the gift you have given your cousin is something she utterly cherishes. I sure do wish there were more people on this planet like you. What an amazing place that would be,,a sort of Eden shall we say?

so consider that there might be something else at work here besides modelling behaviour. Frequently enough, families have more than one gay member. It speaks loudly to the concept of a gay gene. It is far more likely that they are gay because of blood relations, but it could also be something as simple as coincidence, like left-handed people adopting a baby that turns out to be left-handed, too. It happens.

It must sadden your relatives that you are so closed minded (and so proud of that, too).

Oh for God's sake don't have an open mind. These people are just like everyone else. There are all kinds of terrible parents out there that shouldn't even be allowed to talk to a child. So why cant a couple that wants to care and be passionate for children have a shot?

Oh my goodness. Have some of you ever even met any gay parents? Or their kids? Maybe if you knew some of these families you would be more open-minded. I am glad to see that most posters are.
(And for the record, I am a straight, married, working mom, not a lesbian, as if that's even relevant).

First I don't think they are trying to "adapt" any kids. Second of all if you are so against gays adopting children, then why don't you run out and rescue all these kids without parents and raise them yourself? I am serious, open your home and go pick them all up.
You want to talk this big talk but not have a solution, it makes you a coward! I was in a children's shelter with hundreds of kids in California and luckily I was adopted....which later turned into a nightmare as the adopted parents beat us daily. I do not care if parents are gay or straight, if they would have been loving caring parents that is all I would have asked.
Whatever your personal beliefs are, do not punish children because your a bigot. I know gay and lesbian families who have adopted children and do a wonderful job.
Children deserve parents, regardless of your belief. If you feel so adamant against it then step it up little man, and take charge and get these kids a home. Otherwise step off and crawl back into your cage.

That some bull. Kids, especially in foster care, do not get a choice of where they go. I have had foster kids who prefer a traditional household. I do not agree that gay couples should be allowed to adopt or even foster, it confuses a lot of children who are already confused.

I would love to be a spectator for that experiment. Let's line up a bunch of tweens and let them pick who they want their parents to be. Are you confident your own would pick you?
Do you honestly believe that a child in need of loving parents would rather stay in the system than be adopted by two people who would love the child like their "own?"
Maybe a child does not want a pair of bigots for their parents.

This is a completely irrelevant statement. How many teenagers do you know of straight parents would say that they like or would choose the parents they have? Children won't care who their parents are–it's society that tells them that who their parents are is bad.

Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn't be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren't full yet, and the world needs more
children.

Gay parents should have pity on the children and not adopt. There are plenty of heteros able and willing to take care of the children. Lifestyle choices include responsibility. Man plus Woman makes children. Man plus woman should raise them. Single parents also should not adopt. Only when enough heteros are not available should alternatives be considered.

I have a nephew who's mom is gay and lives with her partner raising these two children. With the lack of a live-in male role model, this boy is seriouly behind and confused, has trouble getting and keeping male friends because he hasn't learned how to connect on that level. His mom's partner tries to be the 'guy' but interprets 'guyness' as being mean, cold, uncaring. The gay parenting thing DOES NOT WORK.

Endthestupidity, assuming your anecdote is actually true, it is still irrelevant. All you're looking at is an example of a bad parent. Bad parents can be straight or gay. If my straight neighbors were bad parents, I wouldn't say, "Guys, I've seen it firsthand, straight parenting DOES NOT WORK!"

You are obviously an idiot. I am not gay, but I do not discriminate. Do some research, read how many cases of gay and lesbian parents beat and neglect their children. Then take a look at how many hetero parents do the same thing. These people do not have the ability to just go out and pop one kid out after another, and rely on the rest of society to pay for their welfare and their children. These people go through extreme processes, interviews, back ground checks, and extreme desire to give a child a life. Not saying that they could not be bad parents, but be for real. I know too many straight people who do not give a damn about their kids. Quit being selfish because you never got the love you deserved as a child and quit trying to take it away from all the other kids in the nation. Oh, and if you are so much better than a gay couple, why dont you adopt? Again, selfishness does not get you very far in life or with respect from the rest of us.

hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha,,,you are kidding right??? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha... my str8 mum and dad had me, a gay woman, my mum's sister has a gay son and she's str8 too,,,imagine that,,,someone is giving birth to all us gay people and my guess is that it's the str8s making us in huge numbers,,,so this remark is hysterical!! but thanks for the early morning laugh. ps,,,both my daughters are str8. imagine that!! a gay woman having two str8 daughters!! what is the world coming to!

Judged,,,thats a very hateful word isnt it? To judge. In all seriousness I really only care about the judgment of my kids, my grandson and perhaps a friend or two. Other than that I'm happy for folks to mind their own families and business. I've raised my girls to be great members of society (all of society not just the elite majority) so that part of my job as a mum is done.

Idiot. Man plus woman make children that they don't want and leave them. Man plus women make children out of wedlock so that they can $$$ from the government. Man plus women have so many children that nobody want except gays and lesbians. We are all in this world together. Straight and gay.

Ummmm hello!!! There are not enough people adopting kids, I can bet you won't open your home to a child. There are tens of thousands of kids in this country waiting for a home. Just because you do not see it in front of you does not mean it is not happening.
Your a bigot, and I hope you realize that. I hope you can be honest in saying to your children your a bigot. The fact is gay couples tend to build strong bonds and kids who grow up in their homes usually do not live any gay lifestyle when they grow up.
I know this for a fact because I have several friends who were adopted by gay couples and are now married loving parents themselves. They are not ashamed their fathers are gay, and are proud to have had a stable and loving home.
So until you step up and decide you want to adopt a dozen children for starters, back off!

Yeah, they shouldn't adopt. Because you know, we don't have any unwanted children in orphanages and foster care. Seriously, You people who don't think gays should be able to adopt are lacking in rational thinking. Is it better to let these kids rot in the foster system instead of having a stable home where they will be cared for?

Discouraged, so you're saying I should not have adopted my daughter as a single parent? One of the reasons her orphanage was full is because there were not enough couples willing to adopt the children. I think her life is far better than had she been raised in a third world orphanage! By the way, she is currently studying to be a doctor and I couldn't be more proud of her.

AlienShark – Discriminating against an entire group of people for something that is out of their control is what makes you a bigot. You can say that you are only concerned for the children, but you discount studies that say children raised by same-s e x couples are not affected by their parent's s e x u a l i t y. It would be like saying, "African Americans do not make good parents," and then trying to pretend you are not a bigot because you are only worried about the children.

There is also the 2010 study published by Dr. Walter Schumm which shows that children raised by parents who self-identify as gay ARE more likely to label themselves as gay. Schumm also finds evidence of gay mothers pushing their daughters,who were upset over a relationship with a man, to "try out women."

Richard Redding, writing in a 2008 issue of the Duke Journal of Gender Law and Policy, also concluded that gay parents were more likely to have gay children. My meta-analyses of 26 studies and ten books on GLBT parenting concur with his findings (Schumm, in press). Furthermore, my research indicates that many literature reviews have systematically excluded information about negative child outcomes associated with gay parenting - that is, greater levels of insecure attachment and drug abuse among daughters of gay fathers.

Of course, even offering unbiased analysis on this subject based on careful research is likely to result in vilification and condemnation by pro-gay groups,

"All truth passes through three stages: First it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."

and that is a problem because?
please don't tell me that you are in the santorum camp and you believe that children would be better off with an incarcerated parent than a gay one??? or no parent than a gay one? focus on your own family...

lol, as a gay mum I celebrate my daughters str8ness,,,it's just who they are. i would never discriminate against them or wit-h-hold any rights from them because of how they were born. that just wouldnt be right. and if anyone tried to impose on their rights just because they are straight I'd fight them all the way to the supreme court. The idea of being able to change them or make them gay is abhorent and just plain weird.

Right, because straight parents NEVER try to force their kids into an orientation that isn't natural for them.

But seriously, I know MANY gay parents, and they encourage their kids to be who they are, not what some arbitrary standard tells them to be. None of them have pressured their kids to be gay. In fact, all the kids turned out straight.

Casey, have you considered how you on one side you are attempting to act like you stand for love and acceptance, and as soon as anyone says anything that disagrees with your viewpoint, even respectfully, you call them ignorant and a bigot?

That's because you're being an ignorant bigot. This isn't a situation where it's okay to "agree to disagree." Your opinion is a mean-spirited, evil, backward-thinking one. In 50 years, our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will look back and wonder why anyone could indulge in hate the way you do, just as we look back now and wonder how people in the 50's and 60's could so horribly mistreat others based solely on the color of their skin.

I can't believe that two men holding hands in public will destroy the fabric of American society. I worry far more about imposing Taliban-style ideas of morality on others than I do about the corrupting influence of hand-holding, or even, gasp, kissing.

Look, things are considered gross because the overwhelming majority of people view them as gross. Take rats for example, most people say they are gross, so if someone loves them and has them as pets (and that is fine), everyone else is still going to be disgusted. That is how most people feel when they see two dudes kissing. I am not hating, I don't care what you do, I just don't want to see it.

I don't think the "overwhelming majority of people" are grossed out by gay people. "Fifty-three percent of Americans support making gay marriage legal," a Gallup poll showed in May of last year. Additionally, according to a 2011 (February) Vanderbilt University study, 52% of Americans favor allowing gays to serving openly in the military.

Casey, if what you say is true and 53% support what you want them to, than you have to admit a HUGE increase in that percentage in 10 years. The reason for that is media bombardment (like this article). That being said, even if they support your rights, you should not assume they want to sit in a room and watch 2 dudes go at it.

the overwhelming majority in this society do not feel physically repulsed by seeing a man kiss a woman. If you are in the minority on something like that, you would greatly benefit in understanding that people are physically repulsed by what you do and even though they are willing to treat you like a human being and not let that affect their business relationship with you or anything...they don't want to see it.

Okay... And I don't WANT to see 2 400 pound people kissing. BUT, it happens, I go on my merry way ignoring the things I don't want to see in that regard. IT IS EASY, just look the other way instead of making THEM turn away.

AlienShark – You are welcome to have whatever feelings and opinions about h o m o s e x u a l i t y that you want. But do not use your feelings and opinions to deny gay people their legal equality (adoption, marriage, etc.).

Marriage has not even been discussed here. I actually have the exact opposite view of haters and bigots. I think that adults have a right to do anything they want behind closed doors in our country and I am not suggesting we change that any time soon. I also don't think it is healthy for innocent children to be exposed to such acts at home or to have it crammed down their throats in school. Personally I like feminine women and traditional family structures and I am proud of it...so what.

AlienShark – The story is about allowing same-s e x couples to legally adopt children. You are welcome to disagree with h o m o s e x u a l i t y, but do not let your opinion deny g a y people of their legal rights to adopt. I disagree with your opinion concerning g a y people, and I hope your children turn out to be more accepting of those who are different from them than you are, but I do not use my opinion to try and deny you the legal right to raise your children as you see fit.

Marci, everything that I am writing is very well layed out and I am not using offensive language. You are calling me a troll because my thoughts are different than yours and shake your view of reality.

now you are getting observably angry with me and again coming to false conclusions regarding what I think. Adults have the right to do what they want in America. I am not suggesting changing that, however I don't think innocent children should be involved, much less imported into the situation. While observing your rights I am more concerned with the welfare of children. Why the lash out at me?

AlienShark – I am a teacher, and I would do anything to protect my students. If I thought for a second that gay couples could not make good parents, I would be against it. However, the research shows that children with same-s e x parents are not negatively impacted by the s e x u a l orientation of their parents. You are welcome to your opinion, but please do not use your opinion to deny same-s e x couples their legal right to adopt children.

Casey,once again,this is a matter of policy toward actions and not toward persons.Children need to understand that nobody should get into a same-s ex se xual relationship and that the existence,cause,or mutability of anyone's incorrect desire for one is of no relevance...people who have made that mistake themselves can not lead by example,but this takes nothing away from whatever other qualities they have as persons.

Respectfully, I am more concerned with the rights and welfare of the children than I am with the rights of the adults who want to include them in a lifestyle that may not be the best situation for them to be in. I agree that people have certain rights and I am not saying to deny them, but your rights need to be balanced out with the well being of children and society as a whole, as does anyone elses.

Studies have shown that children raised by gay parents are not adversely affected by the s e x u a l orientation of the parents. Would you rather leave children who have abusive biological parents with their abusive parents or let them be raised by loving, same-s e x parents?

There was an article in the paper today about a (straight) woman who pled guilty to purchasing alcohol for her 17-year old son's birthday party,which led to him and two of his friends being killed in a drunk driving accident. There was a different article about a woman killing her kid because it interefered with her (straight) relationship with a boyfriend. In both cases,the children were obviously "harmed". Yet people like you protest that a gay couple that wants to adopt a child/children that the (straight) parents discarded like rubbish,is harming them? Do tell.

I can not believe the things that are being said here. These are two parents who want their children to have the right t be supported, cared for,insured and left secure if either parent is gone. You people are so ignorant and simple minded that it shames me to think of you Americans. I am a convervative Catholic and I am disgusted by these people who throw stones. I would put money on the fact that these narrow minded individuals have more to be ashamed of than two loving lesbian parents. Oh, I am married (to a man) and have two wonderful non judgemental children who appreciate people for who they are in their heart not what other label them as

so you are bragging that you have taught your children not to use their judgement? If I see people doing a bad thing, I am going to try to avoid it, and or have that action stopped. That is a good use of judgement.

I think she meant judgmental in the way that just because something is different or foreign to you does not make it wrong or incorrect. There is a WHOLE wide world out there of things different than what is around you. Does not make it wrong or right. It just is. These two lesbians obviously love each other and the children they were kind enough to give a home and raise the best they can. They can't raise those children to the best of their ability if the law prohibits them from simple things like being able to insure and provide for them if god forbid one isn't here tomorrow. Using your judgment and not being a simple minded, judgmental person are two totally separate things.

Andrew Ruiz and noolibs – "The research indicates that the children of lesbian and gay parents do not differ markedly from the children of h e t e r o s e x u a l parents in their development, adjustment, or overall well-being." – The American Psychological Association.

Who funded the study you are quoting? Dont believe study you read without finding out who funded it or what answer they were 'hoping to find'. Remember that cigarette companies fund studies that find cigarettes have no health risks as well.

The American Psychological Association has for decades shown itself spineless in the face of campaigns by the ho mose xual lobby and has abandoned all credibility on the issue.There are also studies conducted by lesbians of handpicked lesbian couples asked how they were doing,and their self-reported success treated as evidence.The research has an agenda and is worthless.

in todays society, as well as yesterdays, the politically correct studies of today get the funding and support of tomorrow. You can't even say a gay person sneezed without covering their mouth without 10 people jumping down your throat in 2012. I have a lot of interesting conversations living in NY.

Well Casey., here is how I will open your eyes. It is politically correct to make blanket statements about Christians, Jews and Muslims, as well as wealthy people and other groups in our society, so society at any given time is forced to accept that some groups it is ok to blanket statement on and others it is unacceptable. The line in the sand is wherever the powers that be want it. Someone in a think tank somewhere is hijacking your agenda, your lifestyle and using it to make some political and social change in our system that may or may not be in your best interest, and you are eating it up.

So instead of having a home with two woman who support them and love one another they should be in an orphanage or on the streets? Why don't you ask the kids what they would prefer. I think it's safe to say that unless they are being abused that they would rather have two woman who care for them and provide for them.

Apparently it is Gay couples who need acceptance if their the ones adopting kids because they must not feel like they "fit in."
Any normal person with common sense would agree this corrupts children's minds especially at an early age.

I wouldn't live long enough to even understand they're my parents. The confusion would devastate me to a point were I would run away or even worse take my own life. I could just never imagine living in that situation.

adults are allowed to do basically whatever they want behind closed doors in our country and that is what it is...but I hate seeing them corrupt a innocent kids. I am sure a number of them are adopting just to prove that people that partake in the activities they partake in are capable of raising children.

I like women that are feminine. When they are too butch or manly, you can't help but think...yuck, you will never find a husband like that, no wonder why you can't get men to date you when you wear a muscle shirt and keep your hair like a lumber jack. You have to feel bad for the children who are being humiliated in front of their peers and exploited so these 'people' can make political ground...I am sure that is the biggest reason they are adopting them, its not like they have mothering instincts and they love children or anything.

Seriously? You're judging someone's instinct to mother by their APPEARANCE? Not to mention all of the other ignorant things you've said? I can only think yours is a joke post. Get a life. These people just want to be parents and take care of children who would've otherwise ended up in the system. They are probably GREAT mothers. Yours is probably not very proud of you, since you've got the hate goin' strong.

its not ignorance or hate. Adults are allowed to do whatever they want to do behind closed doors in the US and I am not advocating changing that. I don't like the idea of exposing children to it at home or at school. That is my opinion and it is not ignorant or hateful. I should not be ashamed to admit that I like feminine women either. Its true. I would not be interested in a woman that couldn't wear heels and a skirt for me.

Todd,it is totally irrelevant whether or not orientation is a choice.Our species has two se xes and that automatically makes opposite-s ex relationships the only kind that ought to exist regardless of what any individual desires or why.Wanting to do something does not make it right!!(Do you treat alcoholics as if they were incapable of not drinking?...why insult people by treating them as helpless slaves of their hormones who can't possibly understand or admit that their desires are unfit to be gratified?)

I went to school with a guy that had two fathers. Yes some people gave him some crap about it, but it wasn't any more crap than I got for being too skinny, some other people for their other defects. He did fairly well in school and didn't seem to be any worse for having two fathers.

This was also in Mississippi, and not one of the very progressive states.

it is physically impossible to have two fathers. I think that play on language is disrespectful to real parents. You could say he had a father and live in boyfriend or something and that would be more truthful and adherent to the exact nature of our language.

If you are saying there is no shame in being a live in boyfriend and taking care of another man's kid then you should not hide it in pretty language. If someone grows up with a father and live in girlfriend, they refer to them as dad and 'Sarah', or, my dad and his girlfriend. Own it, that is all I am saying. Pretty language and catchy slogans do not give estimate to the truth as well as honest wording.

It is wonderful that your uncle is hapilly married. However, since he is able to be attracted to both men and women, that would make him b i s e x u a l, not gay. Being gay is a s e x u a l orientation, not a lifestyle. According to the American Psychological Association, s e x u a l orientation is not a choice.

Please don't give up fighting for basic equality and your civil rights. I am a conservative, Christian, Republican, stay-at-home, straight mom. Not everyone of my stereotype is as hateful and non-supportive as what you would think by reading these types of blogs. I believe that God is opening my eyes to see the pain and oppression that the church is causing the GLBT community and it really sickens me to my core. This is not behavior modeled at all by Jesus. This is not the heart of God for you if you are GLBT. He loves you, cherishes you and if you once loved to worship in His presence, He wants you back. Find an affirming church. I know that most of the conservative right doesn't support your civil rights and I am deeply sorry for that. It is hypocritical, blind, mean spirited and does not fall under either of the two greatest commandments according to Jesus; love God and love others. I don't believe that your right to marry and adopt harms my marriage and my kids in any way. The right has been hijacked by a few vicious voices and I for one am just now realizing it. Most of the people who post hateful things aren't hateful people, they are just unaware of how their thinking has been shaped by wolves in sheeps clothing. Things I once thought were right and good, I now see hurtful they are. There are others like me. Change will come. Love always wins in the end. Don't give up. A great website that has really made me think about these things is http://www.canyonwalkerconnections.com. If you are a Christian and love a GLBT person and are struggling to reconcile all of this, check this out. I would recommend you start first with the "verses" tab on the left. God bless you, you are beautiful to Him!

The day you stop telling people doing something wrong is the day you abandon them,not accept them...it can be thankless when the first thing they want to hear is the last thing they need to and vice versa,but taking the easy way out is wrong.
People need to stop defining themselves by their weaknesses for bad habits,and yes,being same-s ex makes sa me-se x se xual activity a bad habit.Treating them as too stupid to ever realize that it is wrong is the way a bigot thinks,insisting they have the capacity to change their behavior is the opposite.

yes, a great post Angie. When I was six I befriended a black girl on my street. They were the first black family in our town (In the 60's) and for four years til we moved away no one would talk to our family because that girl was my best friend. It taught me about hatred and bigotry at such an early impressionable age that i have deplored those two horrible human traits ever since.

The "GLBT community" should be completely disbanded,as it exists solely to reinforce the tendencies toward bad behavior of those who ally under that banner,and increase their ability to evade richly deserved penalties.

You ppl can say what you please about God. Under Who did this country become great? GOD. Religion will not get anyone to heaven. (I'm a Baptist) Only salvation thru Jesus Christ. Its all in the Bible. When did the gay ppl come out of the closet? When did bad things start happening in schools? When did America (the nation under GOD) go down? When they took prayer and JESUS out of the schools! That's the proof. And YES God will judge u so make good choices folks. Raise your children to have morals and KNOW right from wrong. Seems some ppl don't have that sense of rightousness anymore. So how were THEY raised? P.S. Real Christians do NOT support gays. Its not hatred, its not judgement. Its all about rightousness

If a loving supportive family wants to accept and support a child let them. Foster homes and foster parents tend to have a horrid track record of abuse. Being gay has nothing to do with anything it dosen't even make sense to negate the fact that they are people. People who are willing to support and love a child and raise them to the best of thier abilities. What and who on this planet gave you the right to chime in pure ignorance against a child in need of a supportive and loving family. God and Jesus give me a break, using your faith as a tool to pursuade others to neglect certain people from supporting and loving hurt and confused children is the lowest of the low....

Romans 2:1
1)You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

You don't understand what that means. We are all sinners and so we should not condemn another for their sin. If someone robs a bank, we should be able to forgive him because we all sin, but that doesn't mean that we should allow everyone to rob banks.

Righteousness is understanding that right and wrong is nothing more than perspective to the eye of the beholder. Living how we feel is right for us does NOT give us the right to judge others as wrong for living as they feel is right for them. It's God's job to judge, not yours – or even mine for that matter. Other than this blind discrimination, you seem like well-minded Christian. Peace be upon you.

My Jesus is the jesus of love and tolerance. I have no need to believe he is divine, nor do I need to believe he was a magician. I think this thoughts alone are enough to change the world.

He taught me to be tolerant, non-violent, and love all people, particularly those society holds in its lowest regard.

Therefore, when a see a beggar, I great him as an old friend. When I meet a lesbian, I embrace her and love her courage to be herself. When I think of homeless children I cry to think that they could have a home but for the few hard hearts among us who prevent it..

I say, that if there is a devil surely he is deceitful and would stoke the kindling prejudices in mens hearts until they become a consuming flame of hatred.

The only way that fire of hatred inside you can be quenched is through love and acceptance.

You know what else is in the bible? A whole lotta BS. It's a nice work of (mostly) fiction and does have some beautiful poetry and even a few good philosophical insights. However, I don't suggest you live your life based on it. Way too much hatred, murder, slavery, etc. If your god is into all that, keep him as far away from me as possible.

Y'all should go on badbreeders dot net. It's chock full of str8 moms allowing their str8 boyfriends to kill, beat, rape, maim, and destroy the spirits of their beautiful children. I've gone through all the stories...not a bad gay parent in any of them...and trust me,,if there was a story about a bad parent, gay, it would be in there. too bad these str8 parents dont read that bible full of love and inclusiveness...

i came from a straight home i was born and raised wth straight parents i molested by a straight church goer from 1grade on.i have had the same partner for 24 yrs had my own company now have worked at this job for 13 yrs and raised a beatiful daughter that just had ababy girl and no i didnt have her so dont be so narrow minded and yes i go to church and sing there i believe god is the only judge

As apposed to have the kids grow up in foster homes or group homes with no feeling of safety or belonging? Or in families where parents are abusing drugs, alcohol, each other or the kids they don't want? Without a loving home they will be screwed up. Gay and lesbian homes do not screw up children. Anger, hate, lack of love and being closed minded does screw up kids. Science says so.

I am all for this if these women are in love and want to have a family as long as they can provide what these children need they should be able to adopt kids. In fact most gay and lesbian couples are more intense or "real" then the typical straight persons relationship.

First of all, these comments are mostly awful and I wish CNN would clean up the garbage so we could have an intelligent discussion,

Second of all, I am against gay marriage because it destroys traditional family values. I am not saying the two men or women could not be good parents, but it is not for the state to decide who can and cannot marry. Marriage is a function of the Church.

if marriage is a function of the church, why are are couples not only allowed to marry without church sanction and (more importantly), why is the government providing a legal license to confirm the marriage affording married couples rights, privileges and benefits that are not provided to citizens who are not and/or can not marry?

Right. Two loving consenting adults are somehow more dangerous to "traditional family values" than an adulterer who asked for an "open" marriage. He still cheated on her even when she said no, and after she became ill.

And no, marriage is not religious. A marriage is a legal contract, granting certain rights, responsibilities, and obligations. Keep your religion out of my relationship.

Marriage should be defined in two ways – legal and religious. A religious marriage is one sanctioned by a religion, and that religion can set any kind of restriction it feels aligns with its religious codes. However, a religious marriage is a marriage only in the eyes of that particular church. If a couple wishes to be a legally wed, they should have to have a civil wedding. The state will then set the guidelines for who is eligible. If couples want to be legally wed and have their marriage recognized by their religion, they will have to have two ceremonies. Germany does it this way. To be married, you MUST have a civil ceremony. A religious ceremony is optional. It's the only fair way, and the religious people who get all crazy about their "traditional" values being somehow destroyed can rest easily knowing their religion can discriminate all it wants.

I'm not sure how gay marriage destroys any family values. Is allowing two men or women to marry going to affect my marriage to my lovely wife? No, don't think so. And the view that marriage is a function of the church is inaccurate. Marriage can be a function of a church, or religion, but is also a civil arrangement. It can, in fact, be a civil arrangement in its entirety, with no religion involved at all. Otherwise it wouldn't be possible for judges, justices, mayors and the like to perform marriages.

I have yet to hear any convincing argument that allowing gays to marry would be harmful to anyone. Until someone can show me some kind of problem or danger to gays marrying, I'm going to be in favor of allowing it to happen.

You ae 100% wrong in saying marriage is a function of a church. Legal marriage can only be grated by the state. You can have all the church weddings you want, but without a marriage license from the state, you don't have a legal marriage. Shocking that someone could be so ignorant of the facts.

WRONG! Marriage is not a function of the church or atheists couldn't get legally married. Also, with Larry King's 8 marriages and Kiim 72 day one, please explain how this impacts traditional marriage. If you want to protect marriage, then ban divorce!

Also, my church supports gay marriage. You just said it's not up the state and marriage is a function of the church. So... by your logic, gay marriage is absolutely valid! You don't get to tell my church what to do.

Excellent! I agree with you! The state should have NO say in who can and can't marry. Therefore, the state has NO business PREVENTING gay couples from marryng.

As far as marriage being a realm of "the church," however... are atheists no longer allowed to get married? Gee, I don't think we can do that, Brain. And what about non-Christians? And then... which church? Because I belong to a well-established church, and we marry any adult couple of sound mind. I know many ordained ministers who marry gay couples. So, I guess MY church says gays can get married. That has to count.... unless you think there should only be ONE church in America... and I don't think you can do that, Brain. That whole First Amendment thing, ya know?

So, what it comes down to is that people need to be free to self-determine, right? Pick your church (or no church, or some other religion, whatever), and go about your business. And the state has no business restricting marriage for some couples and not others. That's what you're saying, right? Therefore, by your own logic, gay marriage should be legalized.

I fail to see the locical connection between my idiocy and their looks.

Not deny that I'm an idiot. I'm fairly certain you're correct here, just trying to figure out the causality here. If I stop being an idiot, will the lezbos get hotter? I'm willing to make the leap if they are.

Sadly, it also keeps the healthy, good looking men (and women) away. There are far better options in this regard that don't involve making yourself into a fatugly slob. I recommend intelligence. It's harder than getting fat, I know, but you'll find it worthwhile. If you're smarter than the idiot men, you can tell them to get bent in all manner of creative ways until their little idiot brains start to hurt, at which point they'll wander off.

Same end result, without the unfortunate side effect of being repulsive.

Mostly, I care because of the fat part. The ugly part can be blamed on unlucky genetics, but poor body image reflects on poor life choices. I don't want the kids to grow up on a strict regimine of High Fructose Corn Syrup, as these mothers obvious have been. If both mothers were physically fit, I'd be much less concerned for the well being of the child.

Keep yours in its pants and the problem is solved also. But this article is about adoption and some very archaic rules. Only married people who get divorced 49% of the time can raise kids or someone single with money. So where are all the anti-abortion nuts? They should all be waiting in line to adopt all the unwanted children they want to supposedly want to save children!!!

Just to be fair – many pro-life supporters do adopt children – I know one couple that adopted 5 and gave them a wonderful home. Many others provide financial support so the children can stay with their birth parent(s).

Pam, while I am happy you know a couple who have adopted, that is not enough to support the idea that many pro-lifers adopt. I know 5 pro-life couples that will not "adopt the unwanted children of drug addicted welfare queens." personal stories are not proof.

Correct me ifn I'm wrong, but I thought one could leave a will as to WHO one wanted their children to have as a legal guardian in the untimely death of legal parent? to be sure my partner would have full custody of our joint kids, I would simply go to a lawyer and draw up such a paper. No biggie. Theyre making a problem where one doesnt exist.

Let the gays get married, but when they start teaching children the gay life style through example that is it!!! That is too much. Now I am totally against all gay marriage. Santorum I'm voting for you NOW!

That's an odd argument. Most gay people grew up in hetero families so if a gay or straight lifestyle could be taught then there shouldn't be any gay people at all. following your logic we should all blame our parents for raising gay kids. It's just laughable really. Don't you think the most important thing is to teach your kids love and compassion so they don't grow up with small minded bigoted ideas like the one that just flew out of your garbage chute?

Stop trashing these people! They are taking in unwanted kids and giving them love! If straight people have a problem with this, than stop reproducing and populating this world with kids that have no chance. Everyone should be grateful that this selfless couple wants to take care of these kids.

That's one of the more hateful, and so very ignorant things I've heard in a long time. You should not be allowed around children because Lord only knows what kind of horrific ideas they would come home with.

I just want to say that people who claim to be Christian and then spew hatred are not true followers of Christ. I consider myself to be Christian, I attend church, I pray every day and I try to spread Christianity by being a good person and doing what I can to help other people rather than preaching. I have friends of all faiths and all lifestyles and couldn't care less if my daughter grows up strait, gay or anything in between as long as she is a good person. Christ preached love and to me that is what Christianity is... LOVE. I hope that any couple who decides to adopt provides a loving and caring environment and that they be given equal protection under the law. Being straight, or gay, single or married doesn't have any bearing on what kind of parent you will be, or what kind of child you will raise.

If you consider yourself a Christian that means accepting the notion that every single man woman child and infant that ever lived deserves to burn in Hell forever – except of course Jesus. That is the core tenet of Christianity – not love.

But won't because of Jesus' sacrifice. That is the core tenet of Christianity my friend. I am a sinner, I was born that way and although I will always try to live a life free of sin, I will fail. When I fail I will ask God for forgiveness.

ali – You just opened a door to the enemy to do as he pleased with your daughter, since you don't care what she becomes. LIFE and DEATH is in the power of the tongue.....As a Christian myself, I care what my children become and they shall be children of the Most High God. I also have friends of many belief, but God wants us Christians to help others as well as spread His word because our works (help) without faith (preaching) is dead in the sight of God.

Oh, so leading by example does nothing for the education of our children??? That's what happens when people raise kids the kid sees parents interact and the kid duplicates the same in their social life.

They don't spew hate. They hate the sin that they are committing. A mother disciplines and punishes a child that doesn't behave, that doesn't mean she doesn't love the child. Yes, Jesus preached love, but we also have rules of moral conduct to follow. These people don't believe in God and that is where the problem is. It's difficult for them to hold themselves up to a high moral standard of conduct because they have nothing to look up to. You and I have God to look up to and He set rules of moral conduct for us to follow – therefore, we never have to question our moral standards, because it's already laid out for us in God's plan. We must follow them and teach our children even if it seems mean and hateful. Would you stop a drunk friend from driving? I think you would. But if he wanted to drive, then why wouldn't you let him? It's because you realize that he is too drunk and he doesn't and you don't want him or others to get hurt. We Christians know that God exists and they don't, therefore they don't realize the danger they are in.

If you truly care about them, you have to do what you can to stop their sinful acts, even if it seems mean.

Those of us who don't believe in god do the right thing because it is the right thing to do. Not because we are afraid of god or hell or any of that other stuff. Just because we don't believe in god does not make us immoral; it just makes us different than you. If there is a god, I'll take my chance with him/her and not be bullied into fear by people who cannot be good people without the "fear of god." if their is a god I'll will be forgiven even if I don't believe. And, it really is not up to you to judge anyone. Again, that's up to that god person.

Reply to Getoveryourself
Where does "the right thing" come from? It comes from your parents and teachers. Who taught them? Their parents and teachers. What would happen if no one taught their children the right thing and those children didn't teach their children the right thing? Teaching the right thing began somewhere. Where did it begin? We are not born with "the right thing". It's something we take for granted because we learn it since before we could remember. The "right thing" didn't come from some self-righteous man that had all the proper conduct. It came from God and Jesus. Even though you don't believe in Him, that is where your "right thing" came from.

All I can do is pity those who can spread hatred in the name of Jesus... You are all sinners in the eyes of God, as am I. No one except Jesus has been or will ever be perfect so maybe it is time for you to work on your own shortcomings rather than worry about mine or anyone else's. God Bless.

The whole notion that everyone is born flawed and can only be saved from the fires of hell by following jesus is one of the most offensive, maligned concepts created by humanity. There are plenty good, caring and well-meaning people in the world who do not believe in jesus, if your god can't see that and recognize it, he's not worth believing in...

Sadly, Terri, it never will. There will always be close-minded, bigoted, hateful people. Even more disturbing is many come from the tenant of religion where all those who aren't their religion and follow their beliefs are bad, wrong, evil etc. Others are just stupid. The world will always have an abundance of stupid people.

Hah,
debi is not real..but crazy christians are. Most will never post their opinions or even say them out loud. BUT THEY WILL VOTE THEM! If you want to change the world for the better VOTE! Join HRC or volunteer for a candidate you like. Don't waste time on a message board arguing forever. IT doesn't change a thing!
Signed,
FAKE debi

Beware of teenage trolls calling themselves God or Jesus or Mohammed or Buddha, etc. They have no power in real life and this is the best they can do. This has been a CNN Public Service Announdement. Thank you for reading.

Absolutely. Loving parents for children rather than moving from foster to foster is so important. And funding for the foster care system is so low it is scary. Discriminating against people who want nothing more than to love and care for kids someone else threw away is disgusting.

@Roger Miller
Can you explain for me what you mean by "sick lifestyle of gays and lesbians"? I ask because I am pretty sure that the "lifestyle" that my wife, 2 children and I live can best be described as "middle American soccer-gymnastics-choir-Sunday School-PTA meeting-grocery store shoppers- NORMAL." My wife and I have a house, 2 cars (one with a payment the other is owned), 2 kids (both boys 12 and 8 who are showing all the signs of being straight), 2 dogs (who might be lesbians), too many cats (ok- there might be a lesbian thing here) and even a picket fence. We both work and spend too much money on soccer cleats and summer camp. Aside from the fact that we are 2 women I am not sure what ANYONE in their right mind would have a problem with. So tell me Roger Miller– very specifically– what is "sick" about my lifestyle?

My cousin and his partner – they can't marry in their state – have three gorgeous happy children, one his, one his, and one a golden cradle child that is the natural sister of the other two. Fabulous happy family and I wish my grandchildren had the same happy, well adjusted, peaceful environment to grow up in. C'mon guys, some kid somewhere needs you – go forth and adopt! If God didn't like gays, he wouldn't have made Michelangelo. Ignore society and live your lives in total disregard of these looney-tunes.

You won't get logic, specifics, or even a straight answer from religious bigots other than God told them so. Sorry but you are wasting your breath on them. Live your life, live it well, and enjoy your family. I'd say you are doing far better than the naysayers here or they wouldn't be so angry at you for something that does not have any affect on them whatsoever.

In a perfect world, every child would have a happy, functional, safe home with a mother and a father. Look at any research study in the world and it will tell you that is the most favored scenario. That being said, this is not a perfect world we live in. I work in a school and let me tell you children show up dirty, hungry, dressed in tatters. They come from foster homes, their parents are living in a motel, there's an abusive boyfriend who drinks all the money. It goes on and on and it is heartbreaking. If anyone out there wants to provide a safe, non-abusive and relatively financially successful home to a child then they should be allowed to do that and they should have the full support of the law because otherwise those children will end up being supported by the government through various welfare programs.
The problem is that social conservatives want it both ways; they want to keep gays out AND they want to limit social welfare programs. Again, if someone out there with financial security wants to take a kid out of foster care and give them a shot at an upper middle class life and education, then I am all for it.

OK everyone (including you right wing conservatives that think you know best for the rest of us) let me see if i can understand. My husband (yes i am gay and a man, so just to explain to the republicans in the group, we are two men living together) and myself have a combined income in the hight six figures. We have a great home and cars and would love the opportunity to provide a awesome life for a child/baby. We and our families would provide it with everything it could ever need and raise it to be a good and caring person,but living in the great state of Oklahoma we cannot adopt, and the right wing religous nuts talk about family values and would rather have these children in state custody where they are beat, abused, and sometimes killed. DHS is currently in a legal battle about this as we speak!! So if that is your way of showing your "Family Values" then you can keep em!! Cause that is not my family or my definition of family.

He was saying he knows what's best for kids who are growing up in foster care without stable, loving families because the laws won't allow him and his partner to adopt them. If you think it's better for more children to grow up without love and stability in their lives, then I'd like to hear the reasons.

You don't have to be religious to know that gay couples raising children is a bad idea. Children need to learn appropriate gender roles by interacting with both a mother and a father. Idiot liberals who think that gender roles are no longer appropriate in our modern society are selfish fools who value their own supposedly enlightened self-image more than the real interests of children. I feel sorry for them.

Proper gender roles? Really? So you must think it's a sin when in a hetero marriage, there is a stay at home dad and a working mother. And you're right, bouncing back and forth between foster homes is totally better than having two loving parents, whatever their gender.

Ok Brian, so it's better to be raised by a man and a woman who are constantly fighting and throwing hate around, or by a single parent, than by two gay parents??? Wow, maybe this is why Rick Santorum is still in the race, because of nutjobs... :)

As a lesbian mother of 2 sons (that I gave birth to), I have to disagree with you. My sons absolutely know that there is a difference between males and females, and they don't have to have a male "head of household" to learn what it is to be a MAN. I actually describe my older son as a "guy's guy" who plays middle school football (city champions btw), soccer and loves fishing. Because he has 2 moms it doesn't mean he doesn't have male role models– as a matter of fact, we work very hard to make sure that the boys HAVE positive male role models and I have no doubt that both of them will grow up to be great fathers. Your argument just simply isn't valid- a boy can easily become a man, a real man, without being raised by a man (ask all the single mothers out there if you doubt me).

You sound like a terrific person. I too am a gay mum,,, of two beautiful daughters,,,one of whom is the mum of a little boy,,,the love of my life! Both my girls are straight but are inclusive and deplore any kind of bigotry. Their father, a str8 man, doesnt see them and has never met his grandson (who is almost 2 and was a wee preemie) because he is so busy with his new family and wife. He's seen in some circles to be a better parent because he is str8. Doesnt matter that he doesnt have anything to do with them. I on the other hand am with them all the time, helping them financially, emotionally and just being there when they need me (which is often). They are also there for me in all ways too. It's just the way i raised them,,a strong nurturing family unit that would go to the ends of the earth for each other. I was the school trip parent, the soccer coach mom, the homework guru and the mom all their friends talked to when they couldnt at home and still am called mom by many kids I never gave birth to. They all know I'm gay and it's never once been an issue with them or their folks. Maybe it's because we live in Canada and rights are just something that everyone gets no matter who or what you are. Our kids grow up with an inherent knowledge that all are equal and all are deserving. I guess that's what a just society really is. Good luck in the future and again, you sound terrific! xo

Children with gay parents turn out the way nature programs them, most turn out straight. You cannot turn a gay person straight and you cannot turn a straight person gay. There are shades of grey, and we are not talking about child molesters who mainly come from straight families and live in straight relationships.

Thats just an excuse to push your disgusting imoral lifestyle choice on the rest of us! I saw 2 guys holding hands the other day at a movie theater. I was with my kids and I asked them if they would not do that in front of my children. One of them threatened me. I did not respond because I know that when they die they will end up in hell where they belong!

Debi – you are such a sad example of a human. What gives you the right to think that you have even the slightest bit of license to ask a couple – any couple – to not hold hands near your freaking kids? Oh, it's your darm pompous "Christianity" – should have known. I feel so sorry for your kids having to be around such a close-minded, scared little bible thumper.

Gomez,
I do not need you to feel sorry for me. I have a great life and 2 wonderful kids.
I do not like the idea of knowing they are growing up in a wrold where perverted and sick people are considered normal now. People who chose to be gay should just keep it to themselves and not try forcing it on the rest of us!

Trust me when I say this: In the extremely unlikely scenario that your religion is actually right, hell would be anywhere we would have to spend an eternity with people like you. Your heaven would be our hell. I would much rather chill for an eternity with my close friends and open minded people than with bigots and hypocrites like yourself. But since that is a VERY unlikely scenario, there is no use on focusing on it, instead lets focus on important things like human rights and actually making this world a better place instead of praying for it's end.

well, deb the ignorant. gays will never keep it to themselves any longer. what's good for heteros is good for all others and you will learn that in time and until then I hope gays are forever twisting your panties! LOL!

Debi – the only perverted and sick person I've read on this post-chain is you. You say GLBT don't the right to shove things down your throat, and yet you shove your brain-numbing "christianity" down ours. Not everyone believes in a floating fatherly figure who can walk on water, heal the sick, and live/die/re-animate into some kind of holy zombie. You are the one who is perverted enough to enslave your children into this fairy-tale religion without giving them the choice of believing or not. When your kids reach 18 – they will RUN away from you. Get ready to disown your kids, because I'm sure they will not live up to your "christian" expectations.

Oh, and anyone who would CHOOSE to be LBGT and have to put up with the bigotry of people like you would be an idiot. You answer your own question by your "christian" actions – no one in their right mind would chose to be discriminated against by the likes of you.

debi, are you you willing to bet that your god is the right one out of hundreds of gods? Because that's what you're doing! And by the way, yes, I'm betting my soul that you are wrong. Let's make it interesting. If I win the bet, and die first, I get to haunt you (if such a thing exists) for the rest of your life. If you win, then you can come down from heaven yourself and condemn me to this hell you speak of. Deal?

"TWO MOMS OR TWO DADS WILL NEVER = A NORMAL FAMILY. Plain and simple!"

What is a normal family? So you are against kids being raised by relatives? That's not normal. What about single parents? That's not "normal" by your standards.. How about an orphanage or foster care? Is that normal? No its not, so couldnt they have two moms or two dads and be upgraded to an non-normal living situation where at least they are wanted and loved?

Romans 2:1
1)You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.

Debi quoted: "I do not force people to tolerate my views like gay people do!" Um...actually you did when you asked the gay couple not to hold hands in front of your children! You are a terrible mother if you are teaching your children to be as intolerant as you. You can disagree morally with the gay lifestyle, but Jesus teaches us to love our neighbor and judge not. Even if you think their actions are "wicked" a good christian would be tolerant nonetheless. I am confronted with people who disagree with my beliefs all the time, but I am open minded and don't judge them or try to control what they do with their lives.
BTW I think all kind of love is beautiful, whether you find it in a man or a woman. You can't help who you fall in love with.

Debi you need to stay at home, lock your doors, home school your kids, disconnect your cable, watch only reruns of 'Davey & Goliath' and leave the rest of us alone. We live in a country that allows us freedom. Specifically freedom from being forced to conform to somebody elses ideas or what is moral, especially when it's based on religion. If you and your kids can't understand that they you are the ones that don't belong in public.

People as evil and stupid as you are shouldn't be allowed to breed or raise children.

In this scenario, the only one imposing anything one anyone else was YOU. You have no right to demand that others conform to your twisted desert cult morality in public so that you don't have to be offended. If don't like seeing a loving couple hold hands, then you have the right to leave. YOU are the one with the problem, and I hope that your children have the wisdom to see that in the future and laugh at you for the pathetic, evil little excuse for a human being that you are.

So debi and brian, how many adopted kids do you have??
Let me guess you are against abortion too and support child molesters and rapist by forcing young girls to have their spawn that you will not adopt or foster either !!!

No one is pushing anything on anyone. Well except the government and religious nuts like you. Why not just let everyone do what they feel right as long as they aren't hurting anyone? All these people are asking is the right to love one another and give a home to a child who doesn't have one. What in the world is so immoral about that? Just because it doesn't fit within your cookie cutter?

And what if they didn't like you out with your spouse holding hands? If they asked YOU to stop, would you act nicely and politely? Nope. Good luck. Enjoy your "heaven" with all the bigotry and hatred. I'll stick with purgatory for being a good person with no belief in the "faith" style of things, if that's how its going to be.

It's stories like this (and the overwhelming support for the adoptive couple in the comments section) that makes me really truley beleive that things will change. Laws that are discriminatory will go the way of the dinosaurs. I just hope that things change before any real damage is done to these families (ont that note- don't forget to vote and get involved in politics! If you don't like what you see work to change it!)

More gay people are coming out, which really helps. I don't understand why anti-gay people think it's so immoral and wrong, the majority of gay people I meet are nothing short of pleasant. If you're uncomfortable at the thought of them being intimate, who cares. The thought of my parents, or any old people for that matter, being intimate isn't something I want to think about, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. Grow up and treat people like the person you supposedly follow treated people.

You can only participate in helping people if you join a certain religion/cult. Sorry! So sad that in 2012 we still have repressed minorities that do not have the same rights as other American Citizens, based on genetic differences. And all that due to *religion* of all things? Really? Religion is causing governments to deny rights to others, despite separation of church and state?

Religion is what has kept society from collapsing into barbarism and chaos for thousands of years. Just wait and see what happens when we don't have it anymore. Hope you have lots of guns...and know how to use them.

Religion has also been blamed for thousands of years of barbarism and chaos. Perhaps there is no real connection between religion and barbarism and chaos...perhaps BOTH religion and barbarism are fundamental – bur independent – aspects of human society...

Brian, I think you'll find it was science and reason that raised humanity to civilization. Reason is the ultimate weapon against barbarism, not religion, not faith. Reason. It wasn't until the age of reason that humanity began to really improve his lot in life. Thousands of years of using religion as a guide for thought gave us nothing. A couple centuries of real, empirical science, however, has given us a standard of living that would not have been believed by earlier generations. That can't be a coincidence.

What exactly makes them sick or immoral? The fact that your religion says so? Get a grip. The gay and lesbian couples I know that have adopted children make much better parents than most hetero couples I know. Care to guess why? Because they appreciate and cherish those children. Do they make worse parents than those who give birth and then throw them in a dumpster or a river or just beat them to death? But wait..they're hetero so it must be ok. Stop being so judgemental over something you are too afraid to understand

I don't agree with the welfare system either.....so that must mean I hate my sister.....LOL....wow....so since I don't agree it must mean I hate them....I wouldn't expect less from any of you.....but if it makes you feel better, its all good, we are all voters, and we will vote the way we want....I am sure you know where my vote is going when it is put on the ballot

And 53% of the American population will out vote you. That is the current percentage that supports gay marriage. It is actually probably more since so many young people don't have land lines and are therefore not reachable for polling.

53% of those surveyed.....I have never in my life been asked if I supported gay marriage/adoption.....Where do you get your numbers from....CNN??? If it is voted in, then I will except it for what it is, I am in no way a supporter of it though. I am not going to go out of my way to protest it, I have better things to do with my time.....it just happens that I am stuck at work right now and bored out of my mind....

Oh okay, so once it's a law, then it's moral? But until then, let's spew the hate! I don't think you ever said why it's immoral and wrong. You also need to do it without a bible, because there is a little thing called separation of church and state. If you do decide to use your bible, it's not that hard to discredit your claims anyways, since you pick and choose what parts of the bible are okay for hate speech and what was "just meant for that time."

Nowhere did I see where he said gay people use drugs. He was making it a point. Just because one does not agree with another's lifestyle does not make him limited in intelligence. He just doesn't agree. Why don't you just respect that fact and let it be rather than insult. We can all agree to disagree and still live in harmony. Geez.

Because the Republicans want to be responsible for taking care of these children if their adoptive mother dies? Yes, we all know how much they enjoy taking care of children once they leave the womb. Idiots.

Good luck getting them changed in today's climate. Republican House, Republican Senate and Republican Governor. Oh yeah, and a stupid law defining marriage as one man, one woman. I have to say, most of our Michiganders were asleep at the science switch on THAT particular flight of fancy.

I will, nevertheless, watch this couple with great interest and hope that they can prevail. Above all, I'm REALLY hoping that our state is coming out of its long bout with Republican insanity and realizing that "Those People" (the ones that trumpet "Family Values") are KILLING the rest of us!!

The law states one woman one man ....not a stupid law .kids know there are not two moms in the house . and between right and wrong raising them like that is very wrong . there should be a mother and father

So, raising them with two loving parents, who WERE BORN THAT WAY (yes, folks, it's called science... and it is real), is somehow "wrong?" In what world? Yours?? In *my* world, two loving, committed parents means one heck of a lot more than raising them in the foster care system, especially here in Michigan. Like it or not, You People do not get to legislate your morality on others. This is just the beginning of the end of the Christian Taliban rule.

Oh yeah Debi you are right... I totally forgot all of these gay couples looking to adopt were taking the kids right out of a loving nuclear family... And absolutely not getting them from an orphanage or foster system where their MOM and DAD abandoned them when they were born... Thanks for clearing that up!

I hope they are successful. My partner and I have seriously considered adopting, but have been discourged by the laws. They make it nearly impossiable and burdensom. He and I would love to have a child but the legal web is just awful!

There is a reason for the law of not allowing your kind to adopt....it is immoral and not right....you made a choice to be gay, you were not born that way.........so....if I was to make a choice to do drugs, should I fight to have them legalized??? It is wrong, but what if it is want I want, does it make it right??? (I don't do drugs, just a point)

Did you choose your orientation, Stephen? Do you find men attractive, but only choose to date women? Yeah, didn't think so. This couple would make great parents since they really want to have children. They aren't like a lot of couples who accidentally get pregnant, and don't have the funds or the maturity to raise a child.

If you can choose to be gay, then you can choose to be straight. So ask yourself this much, did you choose to be straight, or were you born straight? Figure it out.

WOW....guest....way to read into things, how did you come up with the conclusion that I think that gay people are drug users??? I am sure you would do an awesome job on a logic test??? You obviously take what you read for what it is, and can't read between the lines. Next time I will write it in big over-sized crayons for you, that way you will understand....now go back to your trailer and watch some Jerry Springer.....

You can't honestly believe that they weren't born gay. I'm not gay, but I'm not a stranger to science either. Save your bigotry for a subject you know more about! Let them have families just like you or I. Good grief!

Clearly your an idiot of the utmost "moral" kind. Funny how the true Chrisitian is the biggest hypocrite. Can't find in the bible anywhere that it might say Love one another, as long as they look think and act exactly like you do. Guessing you'd be quicker to be entertained by Jerry and his like, small minds lack for challenge.

And before you say "my kind". I'm a straight woman with a love for human kind!

It makes you shake your head when you see a comment like Stephens. People who spew hatred toward others are allowed to adopt, Marry, and have children. Meanwhile those that love and are accepting and are trying to give children in need good homes are left out, or left at the mercy of the courts to split up their family. I pray for Stephen that he might learn to love and respect ALL people. And I pray that states like Michigan have the courage to give children good homes.

OK, Roger, I will ask you too. What makes it immoral? Because YOU find it "icky"? I personally find tattoos and facial piercings "icky" but I have no plans on curtailing the rights of people who have them.

Steve,
"it is immoral and not right....you made a choice to be gay, you were not born that way", words which are clearly your opinion. Being gay does not make you a bad person, nor does your skin color. You establish a moral code by which you choose to live. I know a lot of "straight" people who have done a disservice to their children, as well as gays. Love doesn't have a gender. I am tired of people who voice their opinion, yet fail to look at the other side. You would benefit greatly by not judging others. Let them be, they are raising a beautiful family, get beyond what you fell is immoral.

Science is your friend, Stephen... and it says that, contrary to biblical belief, they WERE born that way. Then again, what can we expect of people who think the world is only 6,000 years old and that Jesus played with dinosaurs. Sheesh, please get an education and come out of the dark ages!

Stephen I chose to be gay the day you chose to be straight. Who just wakes up and says " you know, I think I am going to be gay today. Bring on the endless parade of ignorent bigots"? no one. The comments here really are inspiring! This is proof things are changing for the better.

Now Stephen, take it easy. You know better than anyone here (since you seem to know a lot about gays and lesbians) that gays and lesbians do not live in trailers. That is for uneducated trash, like you! It is apparent that you are quite insecure with your own lifestyle and moral system, so I would suggest that you clean up your own life before you start parading on about others. It is one thing to have an opinion, feeling and belief on a subject, it is quite another to run around spewing trash all afternoon on a online forum.

@Shottikins, you will have the support of intelligent, compassionate, and loving people. Hopefully soon, those people will be the majority so that we can actually progress as a country and as the human race. Unfortunately, people like @STEPHEN, who will always be kicking and screaming, will always be around. It's just our duty to either ignore or educate them, even though it's the equivalent of ignoring/educating an annoying mosquito in the room.

DrewNY: What educating do you th8nk I need? That "gay" is OK? My children apparently have been educated, since they accept their gay cousin as normal. Is that what you mean? We seem to be getting educated enough to accept adulterers as candidates (Gingrich) or abusive parents as candidates (Palin).

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